P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur has revealed that his initial conversation with Lewis Hamilton regarding a move to the team took place at the 2023 F1 Monaco Grand Prix.
In September 2023, it was announced that Lewis Hamilton had extended his contract with Mercedes for multiple terms, seemingly set to finish his career with the team. However, months later, a bombshell hit the F1 world as it was revealed that Hamilton would be moving to Ferrari before the start of the 2024 season. Ferrari used a break clause in his Mercedes contract to secure the seven-time champion as a partner to Charles Leclerc. Despite initial doubts, team principal Vasseur disclosed how conversations with Hamilton at the 2023 Monaco GP led to the realization that the move could happen. Hamilton’s dream of racing for Ferrari seemed out of reach until Vasseur’s unexpected call over the winter of 2023 left him stunned, reshaping the landscape of F1. Ultimately, the alignment of desires and opportunities resulted in Hamilton’s groundbreaking transition from Mercedes to Ferrari, marking a new chapter in his storied career.
